Conductor supporting bracket and wall construction

ABSTRACT

A SERIES OF CONDUCTOR SUPPORTING BRACKETS ARE SEVERALLY REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE HORIZONTALLY PERFORATED OUTER END PORTIONS OF A SERIES OF TRANSVERSE TIE MEMBERS SECURED AT HORIZONTALLY SPACED INTERVALS TO A FOUNDATION WALL HAVING A VERTICAL EXTERIOR SIDE FROM WHICH SUCH OUTER END PORTIONS PROJECT, FOR ADJUSTMENT OF THE BRACKETS GENERALLY VERTICALLY ALONG SUCH EXTERIOR SIDE O THE WALL TRANSVERSELY TIE MEMBERS, TO THEREBY SUPPORT AND ADJUST THE PITCH OF AN ELONGATED CONDUCTOR SUCH AS AN UNDERGROUND DRAIN PIPE EXTENDING ALONG THE EXTERIOR SIDE OF THE WALL TRANSVERSELY OF THE BRACKETS AND TIE MEMBERS. THE BRACKETS INCLUDE VERTICALLY ELONGATED SUPPORT MEMBERS EACH PROVIDED AT THEIR UPPER END WITH AN UPWARDLY OPEN CONDUCTOR RECEIVING CRADLE PORTION AND ALONG THEIR INNER SIDE WITH A VERTICAL SLOT BETWEEN TWO WING PORTIONS HAVING A SERIES OF VERTICALLY SPACED PERFORATIONS SELECTIVELY MATING WITH THAT IN THE OUTER END PORTION OF THE CORRESPONDING TIE MEMBER FOR RECEIVING A FASTENER. THE BRACKET ALSO MAY INCLUDE A CLAMP MEMBER FOR CLAMPING THE CONDUCTOR IN SUCH CRADLE PORTION AND/OR ELECTRICAL POWER CABLE, TELEPHONE LINE, TELEVISION ABLE AND THE LIKE, AS WELL AS FOR RECEIVING AND ATTACHING SUCH CLAMP MEMBERS.

E. P. DI PIRRO Oct. 5, 1971 CONDUCTOR SUPPORTING BRACKET AND WALL CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1969 a 0 K4 w EDMUND R 0| PIRRO BY @(M ATTORNEYS Oct. 5, 1971 E. P. DI PIRRO CONDUCTOR SUPPORTING BRACKET AND WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 3, 1969 m O O 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

EDMUND P. Dl PIRRO puma {w ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,609,932 CONDUCTOR SUPPORTiNG BRACKET AND WALL CONSTRUCTION Edmund P. Di Pin-o, 56 Kohler St., Tonawanda, N.Y. 14150 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 735,072, June 6, 1968. This application Nov. 3, 1969, Ser. No. 873,763

Int. Cl. E04h 14/00; F161 3/10 US. Cl. 52-27 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A series of conductor supporting brackets are severally removably mounted on the horizontally perforated outer end portions of a series of transverse tie members secured at horizontally spaced intervals to a foundation Wall having a vertical exterior side from which such outer end portions project, for adjustment of the brackets generally vertically along such exterior wall side laterally of the tie members, to thereby support and adjust the pitch of an elongated conductor such as an underground drain pipe extending along the exterior side of the wall transversely of the brackets and tie members. The brackets include vertically elongated support members each provided at their upper end with an upwardly open conductor receiving cradle portion and along their inner side with a vertical slot between two win-g portions having a series of vertically spaced perforations selectively mating with that in the outer end portion of the corresponding tie member for receiving a fastener. The bracket also may include a clamp member for clamping the conductor in such cradle portion and/or electrical power cable, telephone line, television cable and the like, as well as for receiving and attaching such clamp members.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 735,072, filed June 6, 1968, and now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to new and improved bracket and wall construction for supporting and adjusting the pitch of conductors, especially underground drain pipes extending along the exterior of a foundation wall, and which bracket construction also may support conduit such as electrical power cable, telephone line, television cable and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In constructing poured concrete foundation walls, such as those of a residence or other type of building, it is common practice, following pouring of the footing or slab, to erect suitable inner and outer forms to outline the contour, i.e. width, height and length of the walls to be poured. These inner and outer forms, which are spaced apart according to the desired wall thickness or width, are held in place by several vertically spaced series of horizontally spaced transverse tie members having horizontally perforated outer end portions extending horizontally through the forms and by horizontal stringers passing through such perforated outer end portions alon the outer sides of the forms. After a wall is poured, the stringers and forms are removed, leaving the tie members embedded in the wall, with their outer end portions projecting from the exterior and interior wall surfaces.

Normally, these tie members are considered as surplussage, the usual procedure being to break off the projecting outer end portions, particularly those on the inside of the wall and those above ground level on the outside of the wall to avoid the danger of personal injury. It is also ice common practice to backfill the trench outside the foundation wall after the drain tile are laid along the inside or outside of the footing, whereupon the trench is partially dug out again to lay the underground sectional drain pipes for the roof water. During settling of the fill, these drain pipes can become broken and/or their sections separated, causing basement flooding and damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, in practicing the present invention, a beneficial use has been found for the normally unwanted projecting outer end portions of the aforesaid tie members in solving these problems of installing such underground drain pipes for the roof water, by remova'bly and adjustably mounting the inventive brackets on such tie members, for supporting and adjusting the pitch of such pipes, all prior to such backfilling, to completely eliminate retrenching, rebackfilling and pipe breakage and sectional separation. While the invention is particularly adapted to attain the aforesaid specific objectives, this is not to say that the invention is limited to the solution of this particular problem, because it has general application to supporting and adjusting the pitch of various conductors or pipes extending either vertically or horizontally or at an inclination along the exterior or interior of various type walls, either above or below ground. In addition, the tie members may be embedded in a concrete block foundation wall, or attached in any suitable manner to a wall after erection thereof, and the brackets also may be capable of supporting conduit such as electrical power cable, telephone line, television cable and the like, for more efficient and effective construction, as well as aesthetic environmental improvement by elimination of overhead obstructions caused by such conduit.

Accordingly, and briefly summarized in general terms, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved conductor supporting bracket adapted to be removably mounted on a transversely perforated outer end portion of a tie member secured to a wall having a side from which such outer end portion projects, for adjustment of the bracket along the wall laterally of such outer end portion of such tie member, to thereby support and adjust the pitch of an elongated conductor adapted to extend along the wall transversely of the tie member and bracket. To this end, the bracket includes an elongated support member having a longitudinal inner side adapted to extend along and in contact with the side of the wall laterally of the outer end portion of the tie member, a laterally enlarged and longitudinally open, transverse through conductor receiving cradle portion adjacent one end, and a series of transverse through perforations spaced longitudinally toward its other end and adapted to selectively mate with a perforation in the outer end portion of the tie member, for adjusta-bly positioning the support member along such side of such wall laterally of such outer end portion of such tie member by selective installation and removal of a fastener including means adapted to extend through such mating perforations.

Another object is to provide such a bracket which also includes a clamp member adapted to extend about such conductor and across the cradle portion and to be attached to the support member, for clamping such conductor in such cradle portion.

Another object is to provide such a bracket wherein such support member is provided with transverse through opening means adapted to receive conduit and/or such clamp member.

Another object is to provide new and improved bracket and wall construction wherein a selectively installed and removable fastener includes means extending through the mating perforations in the support member and the outer end portion of the tie member and removably mounting such support member on such outer end portion of the tie member.

Another object is to provide such bracket and wall construction wherein one of such support member and outer portion of such tie member is provided with longitudinal slot means and perforated wing means, while the other of such support member and outer portion of such tie member fits into the slot means adjacent such wing means, and such fastener also includes means clamping such wing means against the other of such support member and outer portion of such tie member.

Another object is to provide such bracket and wall construction wherein a series of such conductor supporting brackets are severally removably mounted on the transversely and generally horizontally perforated outer end portions of a series of tie members secured at generally horizontally spaced intervas to a wall having a generally vertical side from which such outer end portions project, for adjustment of such brackets generally vertically along such wall lateraly of such tie members, to thereby support and adjust and pitch of an elongated conductor extending along such wall transversely of such series of brackets and tie members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a partial side elevational view of a building with a portion of the ground being broken away to illustrate a poured concrete foundation wall incorporating a series of tie members and brackets supporting a conductor such as an underground roof drainage pipe at the desired pitch, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the same line as line 4-4 of FIG. 1, but illustrates the installation of the forms and tie members prior to pouring of the wall. FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but following removal of the forms, and illustrates the tie members remaining embedded in the wall. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 following installation of the brackets on the tie members, with the back'filling in place. FIG. 5 is an enlargment of the encircled portion of FIG. 4, with the backfill removed to better illustrate the detailed con struction of the bracket and its mounting on the tie member. FIG. 6 is a section taken aong line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a partial side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but of a different building with a portion of the ground broken away to illustrate a concrete bloc-k foundation wall incorporating a series of modified tie members and modified brackets supporting a conductor, such as an underground roof drainage pipe at the desired pitch, as well as conduit such as electrical power cable, telephone line, television cable and the like, also in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8, with the backfill removed to better illustrate the detailed construction of the modified bracket and its mounting on the modified tie member which is embedded in the wall. FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are sections taken along lines 10-10, 11-11 and 12-12 respectively of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view similar to both of FIGS. 5 and 9, and taken on a line similar to lines 5-5 and 9-9, with the backfill removed to better illustrate the detailed construction of a further modified bracket and its mounting on a further modified tie member which is attached to the exterior side of the wall. FIGS. 14, and 16 are sections taken along lines 14-14, 15-15 and 16- 16 respectively of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1-7

Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 1, a typical residential building is partially depicted at 10 and includes a main side wall 12 supported on a main foundation wall 14 of poured concrete resting on a main footing or slab 16, also of poured concrete. The buildign also includes a porch or entrance side wall 18 insert from wall 12 and likewise supported on a shallower poured concrete wall 20 resting on a smaller footing or slab 22. The roof drainage system includes a rear vertical sectional riser or pipe 24 connected at its upper end (not shown) to the roof gutter (not shown) and at its lower end to an underground sectional drainage pipe or conductor 26, which also is connected by a T to a similar underground drainage pipe (not shown) leading from the lower end of a front vertical sectional riser or pipe 28 and through the T to a common trunk line 30 leading to a storm sewer or the like (not shown).

The risers such as 28 may be secured to the building by any suitable means. However, it is preferred that a generally C-shaped clamp member such as 32 be employed, this member being similar to shape to the clamp member 66 shown in FIG. 5 and described below, except that member 32 has a laterally extending attaching portion rather than the longitudinal attaching portion 70 shown in FIG. 5.

These underground drainage pipes such as 26 need to be pitched in the direction of desired flow, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 1, and it is customary to lay such pipes in the ground after backfilling, by retrenching to about the depth indicated. However, upon settling of the fill, these pipes tend to break or their sections tend to separate, resulting in failure to properly drain off the roof water, often overloading the sump system which is designed only for surface water drainage, with consequent basement flooding and water damage to both the foundation walls and basement contents.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it also is conventional practice in pouring foundation walls such as 14 to erect preferably metal forms 34 spaced apart to the footing 16 to provide a temporary enclosure for the poured concrete while it sets. In order to prevent forms 34 from separating, they are held together by elongated and preferably metal, transverse tie members 36 having their wider fiat sides upright and their opposite outer end portions extending through the forms and being transversely and horizontally perforated at 38, and horizontal stringers (not shown) extending through such perforations. As seen in FIGS. 1

and 3, once wall 14 has set, forms 34 are removed, leaving typically three vertically spaced series of such horizontal tie members 36 embedded in wall 14 at horizontally spaced intervals, with their outer end portions projecting beyond both the interior and exterior vertical wall sides or surfaces 14a and 14b respectively. Ordinarily, these projecting outer end portions of tie members 36 are considered to be not only surplusage, but also dangerous. Hence, they ordinarily are broken or cut off at the wall surface, particularly on the inside and above ground level on the outside, to prevent personal injury.

However, these projecting outer end portions of tie members 36 have been found to be quite useful in conjunction with pipe supporting brackets 40 in the practice of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, it is but a simple matter to removably mount a series of such brackets severally on selected ones of a horizontal series, say the middle series, of such tie members for supporting and adjusting the pitch of underground roof drainage pipe 2'6 extending along the outside of wall 14 transversely of the series of tie members and brackets.

To this end, and as best shown in FIGS. 5-7, each bracket 40 includes an elongated and generally vertically disposed, support member 42 which preferably is cast or molded in one piece from suitable material such as metal, hard rubber and/ or plastic, with or without reinforcement, into a generally elongated rectangular cross-section tapering longitudinally from its enlarged upper end to its reduced lower end, to provide a substantially flat and generally vertical, inner longitudinal side, edge or surface 44 and an undulating and generally vertical, longitudinal outer side, edge, or surface 46 connected by lateral sides or surfaces 48 provided with recessed portions 59. At its upper end, support member 42 has a laterally enlarged and longitudinally upwardly open, transverse through lower pipe or conductor receiving cradle portion 52 which is recessed and of preferably concave arcuate or C-shape, and a series of preferably ten transverse and generally horizontal, through perforations 54 spaced generally vertically toward its lower end and adapted to selectively mate with a transverse and generally horizontal perforation 38 in the generally horizontal outer end portion of the corresponding tie member 36. This series of perforations 54 permits adjustably positioning support member 42 generally vertically with respect to exterior wall side or surface 141) and laterally of the outer end portion of the corresponding tie member 36.

As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, inner side or surface 44 of support member 42 is provided with a longitudinal slot 56 terminating just short of cradle portion 52 at its upper arcuate end and slightly above the juncture of inner side or surface 44 and outer side or surface 46 at its lower arcuate end. Slot 56 is arranged between two wing portions 58 provided with the aforesaid series of perforations 54. Thus, the projecting outer end portion of the corresponding tie member 36 is adapted to fit into slot 56 between wing portions 58 with its perforation 38 mating or alined with selected perforations 54 extending through both wing portions. A selectively installable and removable fastener including an externally threaded bolt 60 is adapted to extend through these mating perforations and an internally threaded nut 62 is adapted to be threaded onto bolt 60 and to clamp wing portions 58 against the outer end portions of tie member 36 received in slot 56. Thus, support member 42 is securely but removably mounted on such outer end portion of the corresponding tie member 36, with inner side or surface 44 facing and extending generally vertically along and preferably in intimate contact or engagement with exterior wall side or surface 14b laterally above and below such outer end portion of tie member 36.

Referring once again to FIGS. and 6, support member 42 also is provided at its upper end with an upwardly open and generally vertical, internally threaded blind bore 64 adjacent inner side or surface 44, for a purpose to be described below. Bracket 40 also includes a similarly cast or molded clamp member 66 having a lateral outer and downwardly open, upper pipe or conductor receiving cradle portion 68 adapted to extend about or over conductor 26 and across and above lower cradle portion 52, and an elongated inner and longitudinal, generally vertical attaching portion 70. Upper cradle portion 68 is of similar concave or C-shape to complement lower cradle portion 52, and attaching portion 70 is provided with a generally vertical through bore 72 adapted to mate or aline with blind bore 64 for the reception of an adjustable fastener in the form of a bolt 74, which is adapted to extend freely downwardly through bore 72'. The lower end portion of bolt 74 is externally threaded and is adapted to be threaded into blind bore 64 to removably and adjustably mount clamp member 66 on support member 42, whereby upper cradle portion 68 is adapted to clamp pipe 26 in lower cradle portion 52.

In practicing the invention in accordance with FIGS. l7, a series of horizontally spaced tie members 36 is selected, typically the middle series shown below ground level in FIGS. 1 and 4, and a sufficient number series of bracket support members 42 are severally mounted on certain tie members 36 at appropriately spaced intervals. The perforations 54 in wing portions 58 are selectively mated with perforations 38 in the outer end portions of the corresponding tie members 36 for obtaining the desired pitch or pipe or conductor 26, which is then sup ported in lower cradles 52, preferably followed by attachment of clamp members 66 to clamp the pipe in such lower cradles. All of this is accomplished prior to and independently of the backfilling operation, thereby completely eliminating the usual retrenching and rebackfilling operations, together with the danger of pipe breakage and/or section separation caused by settling of the fill, because pipe 26 is firmly supported on wall 14 and will not be affected adversely by such settling.

FIGS. 8-l2 Referring now to a modification of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 812, and particularly FIG. 8, another typical residential building is partially depicted at and includes a main side wall 112 supported on a main foundation wall 114 of concrete block construction resting upon a main footing or slab 116 of poured concrete. The building also includes a porch or entrance side wall 118 inset from wall 112' and likewise supported on a shallower concrete block wall 120 resting on a smaller footing or slab 122. The roof drainage system includes a rear vertical sectional riser or pipe 124 connecting at its upper end (not shown) to the roof gutter (not shown) and at its lower end to an underground sectional drainage pipe or conductor 12 6, which is also connected by a T to a similar underground drainage pipe (not shown) leading from the lower end of a front vertical sectional riser or pipe 128 and through the T to a common trunk line 130 leading to a storm sewer or the like (not shown).

The risers such as 128 may be secured to the building by any suitable means. However, it is preferred that the C-shaped clamp member 32 of FIG. 1 be employed, as noted above.

These underground drainage pipes such as 126 need to be pitched in the direction of desired flow, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 8, and it is customary to lay such pipe in the ground after backfilling, by retrenching to about the depth indicated. However, upon settling of the fill, these pipes tend to break or their sections tend to separate, resulting in failure to properly drain off the roof water, often overloading the sump system which is designed only for surface water drainage, with the consequent basement flooding and water damage to both the foundation walls and basement content, just as in FIGS. 1-7.

Contrary to conventional practice in pouring concrete foundation walls, such as 14 shown in FIGS. 1-4, it is not customary to provide tie members of any kind, simply because they are not necessary. However, the provision of the modified tie members 136 shown in FIGS. 812 has been found to be quite useful in conjunction with modified pipe supporting brackets in the practice of the present invention. Hence, during erection of concrete block foundation wall 114, it is but a simple matter to embed such tie members 136 in the mortar 115a forming vertical joints between adjacent concrete blocks 115 in a particular row, preferably in the 5th course or row from the bottom, as shown in FIG. 8. To this end, and as best shown in FIG. 11, the inner end portions of tie members 136 are bent laterally to form ears at 137 for a firm anchor behind the outer block wall, there being ample room for reception of such ear 137 by virtue of the usual end cores 115b within such blocks 115. Thus, as seen in FIG. 8, upon completion of the erection of concrete block wall 114, there remain a series horizontal tie members 136 embedded therein at suitable horizontally spaced intervals, with their outer end portions projecting beyond the exterior vertical wall side 1141).

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 812, it is but a simple matter to removably mount a series of brackets 140 severally on the series of such tie members 136, actually their outer end portions, for supporting and adjusting the pitch of underground roof drainage pipe 126 extending along the outside of wall 114 transversely of the series of tie members and brackets.

As best shown in FIGS. 9-12, each bracket 140 includes an elongated and generally vertically disposed support member 142 which preferably is cast or molded as support member 42 into a generally elongated rectangular crosssection tapering longitudinally from its enlarged upper end to its reduced lower end, to provide a substantially flat and generally vertical, inner longitudinal side, edge or surface 144 and a substantially straight, downwardly and inwardly inclined, longitudinal outer side, edge or surface 146 connected by lateral sides of surfaces 148 provided with recessed portions 150. At its upper end, suport member 142 has a laterally enlarged and longitudinally upwardly open, transverse through lower pipe or conductor receiving cradle portion 152 which is recessed and includes an inner, substantially straight and generally horizontal wall portion 152a extending laterally outwardly from inner side 144 and an outer, concave wall portion 152!) curving upwardly from such inner wall portion to form with outer side 146 an upwardly projecting flange portion 153 which is adapted to position conductor or pipe 126 against exterior side or surface 11-4b of wall 114, the space between the illustrated pipe section 126 and such outer surface 1141) being shown to allow for the enlarged pipe joints clearly shown in FIG. 9. Support member 142 also is provided with a series of preferably nine transverse and generally horizontal, through perforations -154 spaced generally vertically toward its lower end and adapted to selectively mate with a transverse and generally horizontal perforation 138 in the generally horizontal outer end portion of the corresponding tie member 136. This series of perforations 154 permits adjustably positioning support member 142 generally vertically along exterior wall side 114b and laterally of the outer end portion of the corresponding tie member 136.

As best shown in FIGS. and -11, inner side or surface 144 of support member 142 is provided with a longitudinal slot 156 extending through inner wall portion 152a through cradle portion 152 at its upper end and slightly above the juncture of inner side or surface 144 and outer side or surface 146 at its lower end. Slot 156 is arranged between two wing portions 158 provided with the aforesaid series of perforations 154. Thus, the projecting outer end portion of the corresponding tie member 136 is adapted to fit into slot 156 between wing portions 158 with its perforation 138 mating or alined with selected perforations 154 extending through both wing portions. In addition, inner side or surface 144 of support member 142 is provided with laterally inwardly projecting shoulder portions 145 adjacent the ends of slot 156 and adapted to engage the outer wall surface 114k. This modification in the support member, which provides a recessed central inner portion of inner side or surface 144 between the laterally inwardly projecting shoulder portions 145, the lower one of which is arranged at and below the lower end of slot 156, while the upper one of which is coextensive with the upper end of the slot, is advantageous, because the support member more readily accommodates variations in wall surface 11% from the desired planar condition.

A selectively installable and removable fastener including an externally threaded bolt 160 is adapted to extend through these mating perforations 138, 154 and an internally threaded nut 162 is adapted to be threaded onto bolt 160 and to clamp wing portions 158 against the outer end portion of tie member 136 received in slot 156. Thus, support member 142 is securely but removably mounted on such outer end portion of the corresponding tie member 136, with inner side or surface 144 facing and extending generally vertically along and preferably with its protruding shoulder portions 145 arranged in intimate contact or engagement with exterior wall side or surface 114b laterally above and below such outer end portion of tie member 136.

Referring once again to FIG. 9, support member 142 also is provided with transverse through opening means in the form of holes 176, 178 and 180. Enlarged holes 176, 178 are vertically spaced, with the upper one, 176, being larger and preferably located beneath the juncture of inner and outer cradle wall portions 152a, 152b, and adapted to receive conduit 182 such as electrical power cable and the like, such conduit being shown in solid lines in FIG. 8 and in phantom in FIGS. 9 and 10. The lower enlarged hole 178 is slightly smaller than upper enlarged hole 176, is preferably located beneath the series of perforations 154 and is adapted to receive conduit 184 such as telephone line, television cable and the like, such conduit being shown at 184 in solid lines in FIG. 8 and in phantom in FIGS. 9 and 12.

Such transverse through opening means is completed by the still smaller hole 180 which is located adjacent outer side 146 and the upper end of support member 142, preferably adjacent such outer side below projecting flange portion 153 and opposite the upper end of enlarged hole 176. Hole 180 is adapted to receive an elongated wire clamp member 166 shown in phantom in FIG. 9 and adapted to extend over such conductor or pipe 126 and to be attached to support member 142, such as by being passed through the uppermost perforation 154 therein and being tied, all as illustrated in phantom, for clamping such conductor in cradle portion 152. In some instances, the clamp member 166 may be completely eliminated or installed on just a few of the brackets in a particular series in order to ensure against pipe 126 being dislodged during the backfill operation.

In practicing the invention in accordance with FIGS. 812 certain ones or all of the series of horizontally spaced tie members 136 are selected, and are shown as being located below ground level in FIG. 8, and a sufficient number or series of bracket support members 142 are severally mounted on such tiemembers 136 at appropriately spaced intervals. The perforations 154 in wing portions 158 are selectively mated with perforations 138 in the outer end portions of the corresponding tie members 136 for obtaining the desired pitch of pipe or conductor 126, which is then supported in cradle portions 152, preferably followed by selective attachment of clamp members 166 to clamp the pipe in such cradle portions. All of this is accomplished prior to and independently of the backfilling operation, thereby completely eliminating the usual retrenching and rebackfilling operations, together with the danger of pipe breakage and/or section separation caused by settling of the fill, because pipe 126 is firmly supported on wall 114 and will not be affected adversely by such settling. At the same time, the efficiency and etfectivenesss of the construction operation is increased by the substantially simultaneous installation of conduit 182 and/ or 184 prior to the backfilling operation, with resulting improvement in aesthetic environmental appearance by virtue of elimination of overhead obstruction caused by such conduit.

FIGS. 13-1'6 Turning now to the further modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 13l6, it immediately becomes apparent that the modified bracket shown therein may be mounted on either wall 14 of FIG. 1 or 114 of FIG. 8, and hence no detailed description of the building or foundation wall is necessary. It is assumed, merely for convenience of illustration and description that a poured concrete foundation wall 214 similar to wall 14 of FIG. 1 is employed and is provided with a generally vertical outer side or surface 214b for attachment of the modified tie members 236 and the modified brackets 240, for the same purpose as the embodiments shown in FIGS. l7 and 8-12.

However, instead of being embedded in the wall, the further modified tie members 236 are attached to the wall, and to this end such tie members are of generally T-shaped cross-section, with their outer end portions forming the stem of the T and their inner end portions forming the cross bar of the T, as indicated at 237. As best shown in FIG. 15, such inner end portions 237 also are provided with countersunk through holes 237 for the reception of fasteners 239 in the form of screws which are especially adapted to be anchored or embedded in a concrete foundation wall, such as by predrilling the same to provide blind bores 214 adapted to be filled with malleable plugs 215 which are designed to receive and se curely grip the externally threaded portions of concrete type screws 239. If necessary, the inner end portions 237 may be adhesively secured to wall surface 214]) by any suitable adhesive such as an epoxy resin, and as an alternative, suitable fasteners can be short directly into the wall in accordance with the conventional practice.

As for bracket 240, it also includes an elongated and generally vertically disposed support member 242, which also preferably is cast or molded as the others into a generally elongated rectangular cross-section generally tapering longitudinally from its enlarged upper end to its reduced lower end, to provide a substantially flat and generally vertical, inner longitudinal side, edge or surface 244 and an interrupted and downwardly inclined longitudinal outer side, edges or surface 246 connected by lateral sides or surfaces 248 provided with recessed portions 250. At its upper end, support member 242 has a laterally enlarged and longitudinally upwardly open, transverse through lower pipe or conductor receiving cradle portion 252 which includes an inner and relatively short, substantially straight and generally horizontal wall portion 252a extending laterally outwardly from inner side 244 and outer, substantially straight, longer wall portion 252b inclined upwardly and outwardly from such inner wall portion to form with such outer side 246 upwardly and outwardly projecting flange portion 253. This flange portion, as that of FIG. 9, is adapted to position conductor or pipe 226 against exterior side of surface 214!) of wall 214, the space between the pipe section 226 and such outer surface 214b being shown to allow for the enlarged pipe joints (not shown but obviously similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8). Support member 242 also is provided with a series of preferably nine transverse and generally horizontal, through perforations 254 spaced generally vertically toward its lower end and adapted to selectively mate with a transverse and generally horizontal perforation 238 in the generally horizontal outer end portion of the corresponding tie member 236. This series of perforations 254 permits adjustably positioning support member 242 generally vertically along exterior wall side 2141) and laterally of the outer end portion of the corresponding tie member 236.

As best shown in FIG. 13, inner side or surface 244 of support member 242 is provided with a longitudinal slot 256 extending through inner wall portion 252a of cradle portion 252 at its upper end and terminating slightly above the juncture of inner side or surface 244 and outer side or surface 246 at its lower end. Slot 256 is arranged between two wing portions 258 provided with the aforesaid series of perforations 254. Thus, the projecting outer end portion of the corresponding tie member 236 is adapted to fit into slot 256 between wing portions 258 with its perforation 238 mating or alined with selected perforation 254 extending through both wing portions.

In addition, inner side or surface 244 of support member 242 is provided with laterally inwardly projecting shoulder portions 245 adjacent the ends of slot 256 and adapted to engage the outer wall surface 21%. As with the support member of FIGS. 8-12, this modification, which provides a recessed central inner portion of inner side or surface 244 between the laterally inwardly projecting shoulder portions 245, the lower one of which is arranged at and below the lower end of slot 256, while the upper one of which is coextensive with the upper end of the slot, is advantageous because the support member more readily accommodates variations in wall surface 214]) from the desired planar condition.

A selectively installable and removable fastener including an externally threaded bolt 260 is adapted to extend through these mating perforations 238, 254 and an internally threaded nut 262 is adapted to be threaded onto bolt 260 and to clamp wing portions 258 against the outer end portion of tie member 236 received in slot 256. Thus, support member 242 is securely but removably mounted on such outer end portion of the corresponding tie member 236, with inner side or surface 244 facing and extending generally vertically along and with its protruding shoulder portions 245 arranged in intimate contact with exterior wall side or surface 214b laterally above and below such end portion of such tie member 236.

Referring particularly to FIG. 13, support member 242 also is provided with transverse through opening means in the form of notches 276, 278 and a hole 280. The two notches 276, 278 are vertically spaced and upwardl open, and are located in such outer side 246 between flange portion 253 and the lower end of support member 242. Each notch has an upper substantially straight wall portion inclined downwardly and inwardly from such outer side and terminating in a concave reentrant bottom wall portion curving downwardly from such upper wall portion then upwardly to form with such outer side a projecting retaining lip portion. As will be apparent, the upper notch 276 is wider than lower notch 278, particularly when measured across the diameter of the circular bottom wall portions 276a and 278a respectively, but its upper wall portion 276b is somewhat shorter than 27812 of the lower notch, which is laterally inset somewhat from the upper notch, particularly at its bottom wall portion.

Similar to the modification shown in FIGS. 8-12, upper notch 276 is adapted to receive conduit 282 such as electrical power cable and the like, such conduit being shown in phantom in FIGS. 13 and 14, while lower notch 278 is adapted to receive conduit 284 such as telephone line, television cable and the like, also shown in phantom in the aforesaid figures.

The principal difference from the modification shown in FIGS. 8l2 is that such conduit 282, 284 are just as easily installed as conductor 226, it only being necessary to place or drop the same into their respective notches, just as it is simple to install conductor 226 in the upwardly open cradle portion 252. As a matter of fact, the workman can readily use an elongated member provided with a hook (not shown) for laying the conduit within the notches, without having to step down into the excavation. Likewise, the stepped, straight wall construction of cradle portion 252 has an advantage in that it is more readily adaptable to supporting conduits 226 of varying size, even ones too large for the cradle portions of the support members shown in FIGS. 5 and 9 respectively.

However, the bracket embodiment of FIGS. 8-12 does have an advantage in that the circular holes 176 and 17 8 do provide for ositive securement of the conduit such as 182 and 184, without any necessity for a separate attaching means or clamp member, as might possibly be required for the embodiment of FIG. 13. However, the shape, size and inclination of the notches 276, 278 are normally effective to prevent such conduit from being disengaged from their notches, particularly the retaining lip portions 2760 and 278s.

The embodiment of FIG. 13 is completed by the still smaller hole 280 which is located adjacent such outer side and upper end of support member 240, and preferably in the upper outer end of flange portion 253. Hole 280 is adapted to receive an elongated and phantomly illustrated wire clamp member 266 which functions in the same manner as clamp member 166 of FIG. 9 for the same purpose.

Thus, in practicing the invention in accordance with the modified embodiment of FIGS. 13-16, a series of horizontally spaced tie members 236 are secured to the exterior side 2141) of wall 214, such as at the level shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, but with such tie members 236 being attached in the manner shown in FIG. 15, and described above. Once again, a suflicient number or series of bracket support members 242 are severally mounted on all or certain selected ones of tie members 236 at appropriately spaced horizontal intervals, with the perforations 254 in wing portions 258 being selectively mated with perforations 238 in the outer end portions of the corresponding tie members 236, all for obtaining the desired pitch of pipe or conductor 226, which is then supported in cradle portions 252. Preferably, although not necessarily, this is followed by selective attachment of clamp members 266 to clamp the pipe in such cradle portions. Either before or after installation of pipe 226, conduit 282 and/or 284 are quite conveniently installed by use of the hook member, as noted above, with the improved results mentioned. All of this, of course, is accomplished prior to and independently of the backfilling operation, thereby completely eliminating the usual retrenching and backfilling operations and the other disadvantages mentioned above, as well as any overhead obstructions normally caused by conduit such as power line, telephone line, television cable, etc.

Now it will be apparent how the invention accomplishes its various objects, and numerous advantages of such invention will be apparent. While the invention has been described and illustrated herein by reference to certain perferred embodiments, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the inventive concept, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims. For example, it is obvious that support member 42 of bracket 40 shown in FIG. 5 also could be provided with transverse opening means for receiving conduit, just as in the other two embodiments. Likewise, any of the embodiments may be employed readily with any of the tie member embodiments.

What is claimed is:

1. Wall construction including a foundation Wall having a generally vertical side and a series of tie members secured to said wall at generally horizontally spaced intervals with transversely and generally horizontally perforated, outer end portions projecting generally horizontally from said side of said wall, wherein the improvement comprises: a series of conductor supporting brackets severally removably mounted on said outer end portions of said tie members for adjustment generally vertically along said wall laterally of said outer end portions of said tie member, to thereby support and adjust the pitch of an elongated conductor adapted to extend along said wall transversely of said series of brackets and tie members, each of said brackets including an elongated and generally vertical, support member having a longitudinal and generally vertical, inner side extending along and in contact with said side of said wall laterally of said outer end portion of the corresponding tie member, a laterally enlarged and upwardly open, transverse through conductor receiving cradle portion at its upper end, and a series of transverse and generally horizontal, through perforations spaced generally vertically toward its lower end and selectively mating with a perforation in said outer end portion of the corresponding tie member, for adjustably positioning said support member generally vertically along said side of said wall laterally of said outer end portion of the corresponding tie member, and a selectively installed and removable fastener including an externally threaded member extending through said mating perforations and removably mounting said support member on said outer end portion of the corresponding tie member, said inner side of each of said support members being provided with a longitudinal and generally vertical slot between two wing portions provided with said series of perforations adjacent said inner side, said slot receiving said outer end portion of the corresponding tie member, said cradle portion being recessed, and said fastener also including an internally threaded member clamping said wing portions against said outer end portion of the corresponding tie member.

2. The wall construction of claim 1 wherein for at least one of said brackets said support member is provided at its upper end with said cradle portion, which is concave, and with an upwardly open and generally vertically, internally threaded blind bore adjacent said inner side, and said one bracket also includes a clamp member having an outer lateral and downwardly open, concave upper transverse through conductor receiving cradle portion adapted to extend over such conductor and across said upwardly open cradle portion, which is the lower of the two, and an inner longitudinal and generally vertical, attaching portion provided with a generally vertical through bore, and another fastener adapted to extend downwardly through said bore in said attaching portion and including an externally threaded portion adapted to be threaded into said blind bore to removably and adjustably mount said clamp member on said support member, whereby said upper cradle portion is adapted to clamp said conductor in said lower cradle portion.

3. The wall construction of claim 1 wherein for at least one of said brackets said cradle portion extends laterally outwardly and upwardly from said inner side to form with the outer side of said support member a projecting flange portion adapted to position such conductor against said one side of said wall, and said support member is provided with transverse through opening means adapted to receive both conduit and an elongated wire clamp member adapted to extend over such conductor and across said cradle portion and to be attached to said support member, for clamping such conductor in said cradle portion.

4. The wall construction of claim 3 wherein said inner side also is provided with laterally inwardly projecting shoulder portions adjacent the ends of said slot and engaging said side of said wall, said cradle portion includes an inner, substantially straight and generally horizontal wall portion extending laterally outwardly from said inner side of an outer concave wall portion curving upwardly from said inner wall portion to form with said outer side said flange portion, and said transverse through opening means include two vertically spaced holes, the upper one of which is larger and located beneath the juncture of said inner and outer wall portions and adapted to receive conduit such as electrical power cable and the like, and the lower one of which is located beneath said series of perforations and adapted to receive conduit such as telephone line, television cable and the like, and a still smaller hole located adjacent said outer side and upper end and adapted to receive such clamp member.

5. The wall construction of claim 3 wherein said inner side also is provided with laterally inwardly projecting shoulder portions adjacent the ends of said slot and engaging said side of said wall, said cradle portion includes an inner, substantially straight and generally horizontal wall portion extending laterally outwardly from said inner side and an outer, substantially straight wall portion inclined upwardly and outwardly from said inner wall portion to form with said outer side said flange portion, and said transverse through opening means include two vertically spaced and upwardly open, notches in said outer side between said flange portion and lower end and each having an upper, substantially straight wall portion inclined downwardly and inwardly from said outer side and terminating in a concave reentrant bottom wall portion curving downwardly from said upper wall portion and then upwardly to form with said outer side a projecting retaining lip portion, the upper one of which notches is wider and adapted to receive conduit such as electrical power cable and the like and the lower end of which notches is narrower and adapted to receive conduit such as telephone line, television cable and the like, and a still smaller hole located adjacent said outer side and upper end and adapted to receive such clamp member.

(References on following page) 13 14 References Cited 2,693,334 11/1954 Kacprzicki 248-295 X 2,907,198 10/1959 Nunamaker et a1. 52-27 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,911,171 11/1959 Chaille 248-65 3/1918 Masson 248-70 X 3,128,073 4/1964 Berlyn 248-74 X 3/1918 Baker 248-70 5 5/1919 M lt 248 74 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner 3/1926 Berger 248' 295 X S. D. BURKE, Assistant Examiner 9/ 1932 A kerlund 248-74 X 12/1935 Tarbo-x 248-74 X US. Cl. X.R.

5/1951 Walker 248-675 X 10 248-70 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 509 e 932 Dated October 5 1971 Inventoflfik EDMUND P. DI PIRRO It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below Column 3, line 17 "intervas" should read --intervals.

Column 4 line 2 "buildign" should read -building-.

Column 4 line 3, "insert" should readinset-.

E Column 5 line 66 after "number" insert or "or" (first occurrence) should read -of-.

Column 5, line 72;

Column 7 line 7 "of" should read --or.

Column 9, line 4 "214" should read -2l4a.

Column 9, line 10 "short" should read -shot-.

Column 9 line ll, delete the word "the".

Column 9 line 21, "edges" should read -edge.

Column 9 line 28 after "and" insert the word --an--.

Column 9 line 30 after "246" insert the word-an Signed and sealed this Lrth day of April 1972 (SEAL) Attest:

.mgnn wrn nmmn ;n rmnwnTJm n'rqnmLK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents OHM po'mso H069) USCOMMDC bO376-P69 Q ll 5. GOVIRNMENT PRINTING OFFICE II. O-Jb-J)l 

